VZCZCXRO2258
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2884/01 1991513
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181513Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5826
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002884 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/P, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, 
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM XF KU MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA COVERAGE OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. 
EMBASSY 
 
REF: KUWAIT 2855 
 
¶1.  Summary and comment: The Kuwaiti press devoted significant space 
to coverage of a student-organized demonstration in front of the 
U.S. Embassy on July 15.  The rally, called to protest the American 
veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution on Gaza, was a "photo 
opportunity" of which the press took advantage. Multiple front-page 
images of American flag burnings, crowds of protesters, and 
anti-U.S./Israeli pro-Hezbollah signs carried by demonstrators 
appeared in the July 16 editions.  Coverage devoted to the story 
ranged from a full-page to a quarter-page with headlines such as 
"Kuwaitis protest outside U.S. Embassy" and "Hezbollah Supporters in 
Kuwait Torch Old Glory." While the papers exploited the provocative 
images generated by the protest, text coverage of the story was 
generally balanced. Two papers printed text of information provided 
by Embassy Public Affairs stating the U.S. position on the 
Qatari-sponsored U.N. resolution. End summary and comment. 
 
 
¶2.  The July 15 student protest held in front of the U.S. Embassy 
(reftel) was reported in all the Arabic and English dailies on July 
¶16.  Coverage ranged from a full page in "Al-Watan" to a 
quarter-page in "Al-Anbaa."  Except for the "Kuwait Times," main 
stories appeared on the inside pages, though most papers ran a 
front-page photographs and teaser.  A definite "photo opportunity," 
pictures -- many in color -- of the crowd of protesters, burning or 
torn American flags and signs with slogans were the dominant images 
displayed.  An overview of coverage from the most to the least 
extensive follows. 
 
a. "Al-Watan" (circ. 65,000) dedicated the most space of all the 
Kuwaiti newspapers to coverage of the protest.  The front page 
carried a teaser with four color photos (protesters tearing an 
American flag) and samples of the slogans carried on signs ("Down 
USA", "Stop Attacking Civilians").  All of page 12 was dedicated to 
the story and included 5 pictures, text and more samples of slogans. 
 Headline "In demonstration sponsored by the Applied Education 
Students Union before the American Embassy to protest the Israeli 
bombardment of Lebanon. Stop the aggression and using double 
standards." 
 
b. "Al-Rai Al-Aam" ran a front-page teaser with photo (burning 
flag), and slightly more than half-page on page 15.  Seven photos 
(crowds, signs, flag-burning) were printed under the headline, "Show 
of solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine. Demanding that American 
Ambassador leave while burning his flag and the Israeli flag."   The 
story reported that the hundreds of citizens and expatriate 
protestors demanded (among other things) that the GOK close the 
American Embassy.  As a side bar, the paper also published verbatim 
the text of the information provided by the Embassy explaining the 
U.S. position on the Qatari-sponsored UNSC resolution. 
 
c. "Al-Sayasseh" had a front-page teaser (protesters with signs) 
with slightly more than half page of text and four photos on page 9. 
 Headline: "Kuwaiti demonstrators burn the American flag in protest 
against use of veto to protect Israel." 
 
d. "Al-Qabas" printed on page seven a story with two photos (burning 
American and Israeli flags).  Headline: "Student Forces Grouping: A 
stand against Israeli barbarism is required." 
 
e. "Al-Anbaa" devoted a quarter of page 6 to text and three photos 
of crowds and signs.  Headline: "Union of Applied Students organizes 
a protest in front of the American Embassy: 'Strikes in Lebanon are 
a violation of every Arab and Muslim." 
 
f. The English-language "Kuwait Times" ran the story on its front 
page with a photo of a torn American flag.  The headline read, 
"Hezbollah supporters in Kuwait torch Old Glory."  The story 
continued on page 31 on a quarter page that included one photo of 
protesters with signs and text.  The piece included Embassy-provided 
information on the U.S position regarding the Qatari-sponsored UNSC 
resolution. 
 
The other English-language daily "Arab Times" printed a front-page 
photo (torn American flag) with a quarter-page of text and two 
photos (protestors) on page 2.  Coverage was short and reported on 
both the Embassy protest as well as a gathering earlier in the day 
in front of the Parliament building.  Headline: "Kuwaitis protest 
outside U.S. Embassy." 
 
¶3. Comment: While the papers exploited the provocative images of 
burning American flags, stories on the protest were generally 
balanced. Two papers printed text of information provided by Embassy 
Public Affairs stating the U.S. position on the Qatari-sponsored 
U.N. resolution. No opinion pieces on the event appeared in either 
 
KUWAIT 00002884  002 OF 002 
 
 
the July 16 or July 17 editions. The press coverage reflected the 
conflicting sentiment expressed by several Kuwaitis to EmbOff -- 
that of support for the U.S. coupled with frustration over the U.S. 
position on events in Lebanon and Gaza. A senior editor told EmbOff 
of a sense of "sadness" on the part of Kuwaitis -- journalists and 
the public alike -- over the perceived lack of effort by the U.S. to 
influence Israel to stop the military campaign in Lebanon. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
 
TUELLER